It’s hard to find a job these days. Add a disability to that challenge, and the search for work can be even more difficult.
The Achievement House of Santa Maria is celebrating its two-year anniversary of providing training and employment opportunities to disabled locals. Over the past two years, the Achievement House has grown substantially. When it first began, it had four employment crews that focused on running and maintaining its Santa Maria store. Now, it operates six employment crews, including one that runs the E-waste recycling center. According to Renee Poirier, manager of the Santa Maria Branch, when the Achievement House first started, it was serving nine to a dozen people.
“Now we serve over 30,” Poirier said.
The success of the Santa Maria branch has prompted the organization to start a new thrift store in Lompoc. The Achievement House also operates a thrift store in San Luis Obispo, as well as an electronic recycling center, a mailing business, and a nursery. Growth seems to be in the bag for this organization, but at the moment, the Santa Maria branch plans to ensure only community members with developmental disabilities are getting the help they need.
Intern Sarah Schwab compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamaria sun.com.
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 5, 2010.